Headlight-shifting mechanism foe motor vehicles



Jan. 15 1924.

1,481,196 w. F. GODAR ET AL HEADLIGHT SHIFTING MECHANISM FOR MOTORVEHICLES Filed Mar-6h 23. 1925 flzvpzdzv-s. a l/f'Z 600 a) and y. 7 2/271726?! 4/ g mnmmu By V fl/fb/wey.

Patented Jan. l5, 1924;

UNITED STATES v 1,481,196 ,PATENLT OFFICE.

WILLIAM F. GODAB AND HENRY F. MILLER, DE 8'1. LOUIQ, MISSOURI.

V HEADLIGHT-SHIPPING MECHANISM I OR MOTOR V EHIOL.

/ Application filed llarch 28, 1923. Serial No. 627,101.

To all whom it may concem:

Be it known that we, \VILLIAM F. Gonna and HENRY F. Mincsn, citizens ofthe United States, residing in St. Louis city, Missouri,

steering gear of the vehicle for shifting the lamps or headlightsthereof in unison synchronously with the steering operation,

' whereby the light rays from the lamps will vehicle is travelingf beroyected in thedirection in which the so that the light. rays from thelamps wil be directed in front of the vehicle when making turns andtraveling around corners, to enable the operator to see what is directlyin front of him, whether it be at a distance or close 11 A furtherobject of the invention is to provide a headlight shifting mechanism, ina manner as hereinafter set forth, with means for adjusting the lamps soas to pro ject the light rays at any angle from the ground u A furt erob'ect of the invention isto' prhvide a headlight shifting'mechanism, in

a manner as hereinafter referred to, with means whereby provision is hadto prevent the shifting of the lamps under conditions "when the steeringmechanism is emplo ed for the purpose of clearing ruts and 0t erobstructions of a minor nature during the travel of the vehicle.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a headlight shiftingmechanism which is simple in its construction and arrangement, readilyinstalled stron ,durable; cilicient in its use, operate with and fromthe steering gear of amoter vehicle, and comparatively inexpensive.

With the foregoing and other objects in view. the invention consists ofthe novel construction, combination and arran ement of parts ashereinafter more speci caily described and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention,yet it is to be understood that changes, varlations and modificationscan be resorted to which come within the scope of the claims hereuntoappended,

simu teneouslyf In the drawings wherein like reference characteis denote corresponding parts throughout the several views Figure 1 is a topplan view of a headli ht shifting mechanism in accordance with hisinvention, and further showing the ads taiion thereof in connection withthe front en- .ders, chassis and steering gear of a. motor vehicle.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the headlight shifting mechanism, showinthe adaptation thereof in connection wit the chassis and steering gearof a motor vehicle. Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in section, of aportion of a motor vehicle showin the adaptation therewith of aheadlight shiting mechanism in accordance with this invention.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view, a perspective, illustratin theconnecting means between the headlights or lamps of the vehicle.

Figure .7 is a section on line 5-5, Fi ire 2. eferring to the drawingsin detail, 1

denotes the chassis of a. motor vehicle, Bthe 1 vehicle steering gear, 3the steering post, 4 the steering wheel, 5 t front axle, 6 the frontwheels, 7 the connecting rod which is connected with the steering er andwith the knuckles of-the axle spin les 8, and 9 indicates the frontfenders. The foregoing elements are of known construction.

The lamps or headlights of the vehicle are indicated at 10 and 11, andeach of which is provided with a depending stem 12, bifurcated at itslower end as at 13, and to one side of the stem 12, is secured aquadrant shaped plate 14, 15, having associated therewith a. pointer71:6:

rovided with graduations 'i Gonnected with each of the stems 12, in a 1e bifurcated lower end 13, of the stem 12, is connected to thebifurcated portion 19, b a bolt 20, carrying a securing nut 21. heconnection between the stem 12 and the shaft'lT, is an adjustable one,as it enables v; the lamps to be positioned any desirable angle withrespect to the shaft 17, and by lOGSeniIig the nut 21. the lamp can hemoved to any desired inclination so that the light rays can be projectedat any angle from the ground up. The desired inclination can beascertained by the position of the graduations 15. with respect to thepointer 16.

Secured to, as well as extending through each of the front fenders 9, isa vertically disposed sleeve )rovided intermediate its ends with alaterally projecting flange 23, which is seated upon and fixedly securedin any suitable manner to the upper face of the tenders S). The enlargedupper end or head 18. of the shaft 16, is seated against the top of thesleeve. The lower portion of the shaft it carries a collar 24 whichshuts against the lower edge of the sleeve 22, and the collar 24 inconnection with the head 18, of the shaft. 17, arrests vertical movementof the shaft 17, with respect to the fenders E and further constitutesmeans for connecting the shaft to the sleeve 22. The shaft 17 isshiftahle in the sleeve :22 for the purpose of adjusting the lamps.

The lower end of each of the shafts 17, has fixed therewith, arearwardly extending arm 25. formed with an opening 26. through whichpasses a threaded stem 27, which de pends from a Tshaped coupling member28. The lower end of the stem 27 carries a scouring nut 29. whichconnects the member .28 and arm 25 together and the connection betweenthe two is such, as to provide for a pivotal incitement of the member 28with respect to the rear end of the arm 25.

The arms 25 are connected together to provide for the shifting of theshafts 17 simultaneously so that the lamps carried by said shafts 17,will also be shifted in unison and the said mean consists of a.connecting bar 30, threaded at. each end, as at it]. and which isadjustably connected to the members 28 by the nuts 32, 38. The man'- nerof setting; up the bar 30, with respect to the arms provides foradjustably connecting these latter with the her 30, as is obvious.

One of the shafts 11", at a point removed from its associated arm :25.has secured thereto a pinion Set, which meshes with a spring controlledlengthwise shiftahlo toothed bar 35. slidahiy connected by the keepers56 with the outer face of one of the side bars of the chassis 1. Theteeth formed on the bar 35 are arranged at the forward end thereof andare indicated at 37. The forward end of the bar 35 is interposed hetwcenthe pinion 34: and the chassis 1, as clearly shown in Figure l. The bar35 has secured therewith, a pair of pins ,38, 39, which are spaced fromeach other and interposed between one of the keepers 36 and the pins 39,as well as surrounding the rod 35, is a coiled spring 40, and interposedbetween the said keeper 36 and the pin 39, as well surrounding the rod35 is a coiled spring: 41. The functions of the springs 4U. 41. are toreturn the rod 35 to normal position after the same has been shifted, ina manner to be presently referred to. The rod 35, at its rear end isformed with a depending short arm 42, and forwardly of said arm with alongitudinally extending slot 43, in which is arranged an ad ustableabutment 1%, in the form of a hen ed bolt carrying a securing nut 45.The head of the bolt is arranged below the rod 35 and impacted by anactuating member, to he presently referred to, for the purpose ofshifting the rod 35 forwardly. The actuating member is also adapted toengage the arm 42 for the purpose of shifting the rod 35 rearwardly.

tilidably connected with the chassis 1, by the keepers 46, and supportedin the bearin 4-7, is an actuating member consisting of a bar 48, havingits forward end provided with an upwardly extending short arm 49. whichcooperates with the arm 42 for shifting the rod 3;- rearwardlv, andwhich further cooperates with the abutment 44 for the purpose ofshifting the rod 35 forwardly. The keepers -16 and the bearing 4-? aresecured to that sideof the chassis l, to which the keepers 256 areconnected. The rear end of the bar 4:8 is toothed, as at 50, and meshingtherewith is a pinion 5t, carried by the steering gear mechanism 2, andhy this arrangement when the steering gear is shifted through the mediumof the operation of the wheel d, the pinion 51 is revolved and as itmeshes with the teeth 59, the liar 48 will be shifted whereby the arm 49will either impact with the abutment Q4, or engage the arm 42, and shiftthe rod 35 whereby the lamps will be simultaneously shifted, so that thelight rays will be projected in the direction in which the machine issteered.

The adjustable abutment 44, as well as the normal position of arm 42,which is spaced rcnrwardly from the arm 49, pro vides for the YIELQSSM)a inoi nt, of lost mo tion between the bar 48 and rod 35, wherebyprovision is had ,to prevent shifting of the lamps under conditions whenthe steering mechanism is employed for the purpose of clearing ruts andother obstructions of a minor nature, or in other words, the lamps arenot shifted immediately at the start of operation of the steering gearalthough the bar 48 is, but the bar 48 shifts for a period independentlyof the moving of the rod 35, and by this arrangement the lamps are notshifted when the steering mechanism is employed for the purpose ofclearing rubs or other obstructions.

Although the preferred embodiment of the headlight, shifting mechanismin accord illli'l with this invention. is described and illustrated, etit is lo he understood that changes in the details of construction canbe. hadm'ithont departing from the light of the invention as claimed.

What We clain1'iS:-

1. A headlight shifting mechanism for motor vehii-les comprising:vertically disosed synchrononslv shitrnhle lamp supporting elementseonneeted tf),'tl1l',ll pinu fixed to one of said elements, a Slidablymounted spring controlled lengthwise shiftahle toothed rod engaging withsaid pinion for actuating it to shift said elements synehronoiisly, saidrod ha vingr its rear terminal portion provided with :1 dependingabutment and a dependin; arm spaced from each other, a sl'idahly mountedtoothed actuatingz memberoperated from the steering gear of the vehiclefor shii'tin g said rod forwardly 01"l'(tll\\":!?\il said memberprovided at its forward terminus with an upwardly extending arminterpm-ld between 'said ahuuuent and the arm of the rod andi-ooperating ther with to shift the rod, the arm of sanl member normallyspaced from [the arm and nhutment with rod. whereby for actuating it tosnift said element synehro'nonsly. said rod provided at its rearterminus with a dependin; arm and further in proximity to said arm witha lengthwise extending slot, an abutment element adjustahly mounted insaid slot dependinr from said rod and permanently spaced from said arm,and a slidahly mounted actuating mem her toothed at its rear terminalportion for engagement with the steering mechanism of the vehicle toprovide for the shifting of said memberon the operation of saidmechanism, said member having its forward terminus provided with anupwardly extending arm interposed, between the abutment and arm of saidrod and cooperating therewith for shifting the rod on the operation ofsaid member, the arm of said memlier normally spaced from the arm andabutment of the rod whereby the rod will be actuated after said memberhas been shifted a predetermined distanoe.

In testimony whereof, we affix our signw tin-es hereto.

' WILLIAM F. GODAR.

HENRY F. MILLER.

